Pre-paid cellular telephone system

Abstract

A pre-pay service unit uses pseudo-numbers to identify subscribers and substitutes actual numbers to complete a call after verification of authenticity and verification of a positive balance in a subscriber's account. The service unit and the cellular telephone exchange data in the process of authentication. For outgoing calls, a cellular telephone first transmits an “800” number and an ANI. The “800” number is the telephone number of the pre-pay service unit, which then requests number actually dialed. The cellular telephone responds with dialed digits, a security code, and status data. If the information is correct, the dialed digits are then passed to a local exchange carrier to complete the call. For incoming calls, a pseudo-number directs the call to the pre-pay service unit, which converts the pseudo-number to the actual telephone number of a subscriber's cellular telephone.

What is claimed as the invention is:  
     
       1. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, in which the transmission of the predetermined destination number is transparent to the subscriber, and in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  in which the predetermined destination number corresponds to a pre-authorized wireless service provider. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  in which the predetermined destination number comprises a toll-free number. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  in which the subscriber-specified destination number corresponds to a party with whom communications are desired. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  in which the routing further comprises: 
       buffering the subscriber-specified destination number; and  
       transmitting the buffered subscriber-specified number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider.  
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  in which transmitting the buffered subscriber-specified number comprises: 
       receiving a request from the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and  
       sending the buffered subscriber-specified number in response to the received request.  
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting a wireless communication device identifier with the predetermined destination number. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  in which the wireless communication device identifier and the predetermined destination number are transmitted serially. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7  in which the predetermined destination number facilitates connection to the pre-authorized wireless service provider and the wireless communication device identifier enables the pre-authorized wireless service provider to determine the wireless communication device's identity. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  in which the wireless communication device comprises a cellular telephone. 
     
     
       11. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising 
       routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit;  
       in which the routing further comprises buffering the subscriber-specified destination number, and transmitting the buffered subscriber-specified number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and  
       further comprising transmitting security information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider.  
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  in which the transmitted security information enables the pre-authorized wireless service provider to verify the wireless communication device's authenticity. 
     
     
       13. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising 
       routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit;  
       in which the routing further comprises buffering the subscriber-specified destination number, and transmitting the buffered subscriber-specified number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and  
       further comprising transmitting roaming information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider.  
     
     
       14. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, and further comprising transmitting a wireless communication device identifier with the predetermined destination number, in which the wireless communication device identifier comprises an ANI, and in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit. 
     
     
       15. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, and further comprising transmitting a wireless communication device identifier with the predetermined destination number, in which the wireless communication device identifier comprises information other than an ANI, and in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit. 
     
     
       16. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit. 
     
     
       17. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations: 
       receive a subscriber-specified destination number;  
       buffer the received subscriber-specified destination number;  
       transmit a predetermined destination number in place of the buffered subscriber-specified destination number; and  
       transmit the buffered subscriber-specified destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprising a pre-pay service unit;  
       in which transmission of the predetermined destination number is transparent to a subscriber operating the wireless communication device.  
     
     
       18. The software of  claim 17  in which transmission of the predetermined destination number occurs in response to a trigger event. 
     
     
       19. The software of  claim 18  in which the trigger event comprises a depression of a SEND key on a wireless communications device. 
     
     
       20. The software of  claim 17  in which the received subscriber-specified destination number corresponds to subscriber input on a keypad of the wireless communications device. 
     
     
       21. The software of  claim 17  in which the received subscriber-specified destination number corresponds to a party to be contacted. 
     
     
       22. The software of  claim 17  in which the predetermined destination number corresponds to a pre-authorized wireless service provider. 
     
     
       23. The software of  claim 17  further comprising instructions to perform the following operations: 
       receive a request for the subscriber-specified destination number from the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and  
       transmit the buffered subscriber-specified destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request.  
     
     
       24. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations: 
       receive a subscriber-specified destination number;  
       buffer the received subscriber-specified destination number; and  
       transmit a predetermined destination number in place of the buffered subscriber-specified destination number;  
       further comprising instructions to perform the following operations:  
       receive a request for the subscriber-specified destination number from a pre-authorized wireless service provider; and  
       transmit the buffered subscriber-specified destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprising a pre-pay service unit in response to the received request; and  
       further comprising instructions to transmit security information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request, the security information comprising data that enables the pre-authorized wireless service provider to verify the authenticity of the wireless communication device.  
     
     
       25. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations: 
       receive a subscriber-specified destination number;  
       buffer the received subscriber-specified destination number; and  
       transmit a predetermined destination number in place of the buffered subscriber-specified destination number;  
       further comprising instructions to perform the following operations:  
       receive a request for the subscriber-specified destination number from a pre-authorized wireless service provider comprising a pre-pay service unit; and  
       transmit the buffered subscriber-specified destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request; and  
       further comprising instructions to transmit roaming information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request.  
     
     
       26. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations: 
       receive a subscriber-specified destination number;  
       buffer the received subscriber-specified destination number; and  
       transmit a predetermined destination number in place of the buffered subscriber-specified destination number;  
       further comprising instructions to transfer a wireless communication device identifier with the predetermined destination number, the wireless communication device identifier comprising data that enables a pre-authorized wireless service provider comprising a pre-pay service unit to identify the wireless communication device.  
     
     
       27. The software of  claim 26  in which the wireless communication device identifier comprises an ANI. 
     
     
       28. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising: 
       receiving from a subscriber a destination number specifying a party to be called;  
       buffering the destination number received from the subscriber;  
       transmitting a predetermined pre-authorized wireless service provider's number in place of the buffered destination number;  
       receiving a request for the subscriber-specified destination number from the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and  
       transmitting the buffered destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request;  
       in which transmission of the predetermined pre-authorized wireless service provider's number is transparent to a subscriber operating the wireless communication device,  
       and in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit.  
     
     
       29. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising: 
       transparently receiving from a pre-authorized wireless service provider security information corresponding to an incoming call request;  
       verifying the received security information; and  
       selectively notifying a subscriber of an incoming call only after the security information is verified.  
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29  in which the selective notification comprises notifying the subscriber if the received security information is verified to be valid. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 29  further comprising, upon verification of the received security information, transmitting verification information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 29  in which the transparent reception of the security information comprises going off-hook without alerting the subscriber. 
     
     
       33. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations: 
       receive transparently from a pre-authorized wireless service provider security information corresponding to an incoming call request;  
       verify the received security information; and  
       selectively notify a subscriber of an incoming call only after the security information is verified.  
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33  in which the selective notification comprises notifying the subscriber if the received security information is verified to be valid. 
     
     
       35. The software of  claim 33  further comprising instructions to transmit verification information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider upon verification of the received security information indicating acceptance. 
     
     
       36. The software of  claim 33  in which the transparent reception of the security information comprises executing instructions to go off-hook without alerting the subscriber. 
     
     
       37. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising: 
       receiving a call from a wireless communication device directed to a predetermined destination number, the call including information that identifies the wireless communication device;  
       accessing a pre-paid account corresponding to the wireless communication device; and  
       transparently obtaining a subscriber-specified destination number from the identified wireless communication device;  
       in which the transmission of the predetermined destination number is transparent to a subscriber operating the wireless communication device.  
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37  in which the predetermined destination number corresponds to the pre-authorized wireless service provider. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 37  in which the subscriber-specified destination number corresponds to a party with whom communications are desired. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 37  further comprising confirming that the identified wireless communication device corresponds to a subscriber of the pre-authorized wireless service provider. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 37  in which transparently obtaining the subscriber-specified number comprises communicating with the wireless communication device in a manner that is unnoticeable to a subscriber. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 37  further comprising: 
       determining a status of an account corresponding to the identified wireless communication device; and  
       based on a result of the determining, selectively passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network.  
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 37  further comprising passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network. 
     
     
       44. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising: 
       receiving a call from a wireless communication device directed to a predetermined destination number, the call including information that identifies the wireless communication device;  
       accessing a pre-paid account corresponding to the wireless communication device; and  
       transparently obtaining a subscriber-specified destination number from the identified wireless communication device;  
       in which the information that identifies the wireless communication device comprises an ANI.  
     
     
       45. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising: 
       receiving a call from a wireless communication device directed to a predetermined destination number, the call including information that identifies the wireless communication device;  
       accessing a pre-paid account corresponding to the wireless communication device; and  
       transparently obtaining a subscriber-specified destination number from the identified wireless communication device; and  
       further comprising receiving security information from the identified wireless communication device.  
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 45  further comprising verifying authenticity of the wireless communication device based on the security information received. 
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 46  further comprising selectively passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network based on a result of the authenticity verification. 
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 47  in which the subscriber-specified destination number is not passed to the public network if the authenticity of the wireless communication device is not verified. 
     
     
       49. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising: 
       receiving a call from a wireless communication device directed to a predetermined destination number, the call including information that identifies the wireless communication device;  
       accessing a pre-paid account corresponding to the wireless communication device; and  
       transparently obtaining a subscriber-specified destination number from the identified wireless communication device; and further comprising:  
       determining a status of an account corresponding to the identified wireless communication device; and  
       based on a result of the determining, selectively passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network  
       in which the subscriber-specified destination number is not passed to the public network if the account contains insufficient funds.  
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 49  further comprising receiving security information from the identified wireless communication device. 
     
     
       51. The method of  claim 50  further comprising verifying authenticity of the wireless communication device based on the security information received. 
     
     
       52. The method of  claim 51  further comprising selectively passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network based on a result of the authenticity verification. 
     
     
       53. The method of  claim 52  in which the subscriber-specified destination number is not passed to the public network if the authenticity of the wireless communication device is not verified. 
     
     
       54. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising: 
       receiving in connection with a call request a pseudo-number from a calling party;  
       based on the received pseudo-number, determining a subscriber destination number of a wireless communication device associated with the pre-authorized wireless service provider;  
       passing the subscriber destination number to a public network to complete the call request.  
     
     
       55. The method of  claim 54  in which the public network comprises a local exchange carrier (LEC) or a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) or both. 
     
     
       56. The method of  claim 54  in which the pseudo-number comprises a destination number for the pre-authorized wireless service provider. 
     
     
       57. The method of  claim 54  in which the pseudo-number uniquely identifies the subscriber. 
     
     
       58. The method of  claim 54  in which the subscriber destination number comprises a Mobile Identification Number (MIN). 
     
     
       59. The method of  claim 54  in which determining the subscriber destination number comprises using the received pseudo-number as an index to a look-up table. 
     
     
       60. The method of  claim 54  further comprising, prior to passing the subscriber destination number to the public network, confirming a status of an account associated with the subscriber destination number. 
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 60  in which confirming the account status comprises determining if the account contains sufficient funds. 
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 61  further comprising prohibiting completion of the call request if the account contains insufficient funds. 
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 54  further comprising transmitting a security code to the wireless communication device via the public network. 
     
     
       64. The method of  claim 63  further comprising receiving from the wireless communication device a verification code corresponding to the transmitted security code. 
     
     
       65. The method of  claim 64  comprising confirming the verification code and aborting the call request if the verification code does not confirm successfully. 
     
     
       66. The method of  claim 54  further comprising monitoring a status of an account associated with the wireless subscriber device during the call. 
     
     
       67. The method of  claim 54  in which the pseudo-number is distinct from the subscriber destination number.